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Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Chris DellaCamera Chris DellaCamera New York, United States Last Updated: July 2024 NAICS 42386

Revenue

$86.9bn

2024

$86.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

48,544

Businesses

3,519

Wages

$X.Xbn

Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling in the US industry analysis

Demand for wholesalers of aircraft, marine and railroad transportation equipment has experienced significant volatility. Still, economic expansion contributed to revenue growth during most of the period, as increased air travel and marine and railroad transportation encouraged sales of relevant equipment and supplies. The pandemic caused substantial disruption for the industry, with revenue declining 4.6% in 2020 alone. Subsequently, because of a recovering economy and reduction of travel restrictions, transportation demand rose – helping the industry resume expansion. Resilient economic growth has helped support equipment sales in recent years. Industry-wide revenue is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% to an expected $82.7 billion through the end of 2024, with anticipated growth of 4.8% during 2024 alone. Profit is forecast to remain robust thanks to strong downstream activity.

Trends and Insights

  • Wholesalers have contended with increased competition. Original equipment manufacturers have expanded their offering of aftermarket services to capture more of this profitable segment.
  • Aircraft equipment and supplies, including engines and parts, are widely needed. Many of these products wear relatively quickly and require regular replacement, resulting in their large revenue share.
  • The distribution of downstream industries heavily influences the location of establishments in this industry. These include airlines, manufacturers, maintenance-overhaul-repair (MRO) businesses and military installations.
  • Wholesalers with exclusive distribution rights can improve competitiveness. By being the only distributor for a product, a wholesaler can control supply and boost prices.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 5.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $86.9bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Wholesalers have contended with heightened competition

  • Independent distributors have endured more and more competition from original equipment manufacturer (OEM) distribution operations.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

The freight transportation services index will continue to track demand for wholesalers

  • The monthly measure of service volume from the for-hire transportation sector, the freight transportation services index, will remain a significant indicator of industry revenue growth.

Biggest companies in the Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Aviall Inc.
5,326.2
-177.5
-3.3

To view the market share and analysis for all 1 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Aircraft equipment and supplies including engines and parts, Marine machinery, equipment and supplies and Service receipts and labor charges. Aircraft equipment and supplies including engines and parts is the largest segment of the Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling in the US.

Trends and Insights

Aircraft equipment and supplies, including engines and parts, are widely needed

  • Aircraft equipment and supplies include fasteners, system components, electrical equipment and parts, cabin parts and furnishing and machined parts. Engine types vary from large jet engines to pistons and turboprops.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry wholesales transportation equipment and supplies, including aircraft, aircraft parts and equipment, boats, marine equipment, railroad cars and railroad equipment. It doesn't wholesale marine pleasure craft engines and parts, motor vehicle-related transportation equipment or electronic navigational equipment (e.g. sonar or radar).

What's included in this industry?

Wholesaling aircraft equipment and supplies, including engines and parts Wholesaling new aircraftWholesaling marine machinery, equipment and supplies Wholesaling other transportation equipment

Companies

Aviall Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 1 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

DISCRETIONARY SPENDINGWHOLESALE BYPASSTHROUGHPUTMAINTENANCE-REPAIR-OVERHAUL (MRO)

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 42386 - Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Wholesalers have contended with increased competition. Original equipment manufacturers have expanded their offering of aftermarket services to capture more of this profitabl...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Aircraft equipment and supplies, including engines and parts, are widely needed. Many of these products wear relatively quickly and require regular replacement, resulting in ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The distribution of downstream industries heavily influences the location of establishments in this industry. These include airlines, manufacturers, maintenance-overhaul-repa...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Wholesalers with exclusive distribution rights can improve competitiveness. By being the only distributor for a product, a wholesaler can control supply and boost prices.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The industry is highly fragmented and is made up of many small to medium-size companies. Many companies are small, used parts wholesalers.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Aviall Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Aviall Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Aircraft, marine and railroad transportation equipment wholesalers are heavily regulated. Still, the degree of regulation depends on which segment a company operates in and t...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Aircraft, marine and railroad transportation equipment wholesaling is relatively labor-intensive. Automation processes have partially replaced some tasks, putting downward pr...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling in the US industry in United States is $86.9bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling in the US industry in 2024?

There are 3,519 businesses in the Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 5.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling in the US market in United States?

The biggest company operating in the Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling market in United States is Aviall Inc.

What does the Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling in the US in United States include?

Wholesaling aircraft equipment and supplies, including engines and parts and Wholesaling new aircraft are part of the Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Aviall Inc..

How competitive is the Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Aircraft, Marine & Railroad Transportation Equipment Wholesaling in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Farm, Lawn & Garden Equipment Wholesaling in the US

Complementors

  • Construction & Mining Equipment Wholesaling in the US
  • Industrial Machinery & Equipment Wholesaling in the US
  • Industrial Supplies Wholesaling in the US
  • Aircraft Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul in the US

International industries

  • Global Commercial Aircraft Manufacturing
  • Aircraft, Engine & Parts Manufacturing in Canada
  • Aircraft Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul in Canada
  • Aircraft, Engine & Parts Manufacturing in the UK
  • Aircraft Repair, Maintenance & Overhaul in the UK

View all industries in United States

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IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

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Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

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